1Then Elihu said:
2“Hear my words, you wise men;
listen to me, you men of learning.
3For the ear tests words
as the tongue tastes food.
4Let us discern for ourselves what is right;
let us learn together what is good.
5“Job says, ‘I am innocent,
but God denies me justice.
6Although I am right,
I am considered a liar;
although I am guiltless,
his arrow inflicts an incurable wound.’
7Is there anyone like Job,
who drinks scorn like water?
8He keeps company with evildoers;
he associates with the wicked.
9For he says, ‘There is no profit
in trying to please God.’
10“So listen to me, you men of understanding.
Far be it from God to do evil,
from the Almighty to do wrong.
11He repays everyone for what they have done;
he brings on them what their conduct deserves.
12It is unthinkable that God would do wrong,
that the Almighty would pervert justice.
13Who appointed him over the earth?
Who put him in charge of the whole world?
14If it were his intention
and he withdrew his spirit34:14 Or Spirit and breath,
15all humanity would perish together
and mankind would return to the dust.
16“If you have understanding, hear this;
listen to what I say.
17Can someone who hates justice govern?
Will you condemn the just and mighty One?
18Is he not the One who says to kings, ‘You are worthless,’
and to nobles, ‘You are wicked,’
19who shows no partiality to princes
and does not favor the rich over the poor,
for they are all the work of his hands?
20They die in an instant, in the middle of the night;
the people are shaken and they pass away;
the mighty are removed without human hand.
21“His eyes are on the ways of mortals;
he sees their every step.
22There is no deep shadow, no utter darkness,
where evildoers can hide.
23God has no need to examine people further,
that they should come before him for judgment.
24Without inquiry he shatters the mighty
and sets up others in their place.
25Because he takes note of their deeds,
he overthrows them in the night and they are crushed.
26He punishes them for their wickedness
where everyone can see them,
27because they turned from following him
and had no regard for any of his ways.
28They caused the cry of the poor to come before him,
so that he heard the cry of the needy.
29But if he remains silent, who can condemn him?
If he hides his face, who can see him?
Yet he is over individual and nation alike,
30to keep the godless from ruling,
from laying snares for the people.
31“Suppose someone says to God,
‘I am guilty but will offend no more.
32Teach me what I cannot see;
if I have done wrong, I will not do so again.’
33Should God then reward you on your terms,
when you refuse to repent?
You must decide, not I;
so tell me what you know.
34“Men of understanding declare,
wise men who hear me say to me,
35‘Job speaks without knowledge;
his words lack insight.’
36Oh, that Job might be tested to the utmost
for answering like a wicked man!
37To his sin he adds rebellion;
scornfully he claps his hands among us
and multiplies his words against God.”
Elihu Anatangaza Haki Ya Mungu
1Kisha Elihu akasema:
234:2 Ay 32:10“Sikieni maneno yangu, enyi watu wenye hekima;
nisikilizeni mimi, ninyi watu wenye maarifa.
334:3 Ay 12:11Kwa kuwa sikio huyajaribu maneno
kama vile ulimi uonjavyo chakula.
434:4 1The 5:21Tujichagulie wenyewe yaliyo sawa,
nasi tujifunze pamoja yaliyo mema.
534:5 Ay 33:9; 6:29; 27:2; 9; 17“Ayubu anasema, ‘Mimi sina hatia,
lakini Mungu ameninyima haki yangu.
634:6 Yer 10:19; Ay 10:3Ingawa niko sawa,
ninaonekana mwongo;
nami ingawa sina kosa,
kidonda changu hakiponi.’
734:7 Ay 9:21; 15:16Ni mtu gani aliye kama Ayubu,
anywaye dharau kama maji?
834:8 Ay 22:15; Za 50:18Ashirikianaye na watenda mabaya
na kuchangamana na watu waovu.
934:9 Ay 9:29-31Kwa kuwa anasema, ‘Haimfaidi mwanadamu kitu chochote
anapojitahidi kumpendeza Mungu.’
1034:10 Mwa 18:25; Za 92:15; Rum 3:5“Hivyo nisikilizeni mimi, ninyi watu wenye ufahamu.
Kamwe Mungu hatendi uovu,
Mwenyezi hafanyi kosa.
1134:11 Ay 21:31; 2Kor 5:10; Yer 17:10; Eze 33; 20; Mit 24:12Humlipa mwanadamu kwa ajili ya lile alilotenda;
huleta juu yake kile ambacho matendo yake yanastahili.
1234:12 Za 9:16; Kol 3:25Ni jambo lisiloweza kufikiriwa kwamba Mungu angefanya makosa,
kwamba Mwenyezi angepotosha hukumu.
1334:13 Ay 36:23; Isa 40:14Je, ni nani aliyemtawaza juu ya dunia?
Ni nani aliyemweka kuwa mwangalizi wa ulimwengu wote?
1434:14 Hes 16:22; Za 104:29; Mhu 12:7Kama lilikuwa kusudi la Mungu,
naye akaiondoa Roho yake na pumzi yake,
1534:15 Za 90:10; Mwa 2:7wanadamu wote wangeliangamia kwa pamoja,
na mtu angerudi mavumbini.
1634:16 Ay 32:10; 34:30“Kama ninyi mnaufahamu, sikieni hili;
sikilizeni hili nisemalo.
1734:17 Mwa 18:23; 2Sam 23:3-4; Mit 20:8; Rum 3:5-7; Ay 10:7Je, yeye aichukiaye haki aweza kutawala?
Je, utamhukumu mwenye haki, Aliye na Nguvu Zote?
1834:18 Kut 22:28; Isa 40:24Je, si ni yeye awaambiaye wafalme, ‘Ninyi hamfai kitu,’
nao watu mashuhuri, ‘Ninyi ni waovu,’
1934:19 Kum 10:17; Mdo 10:34; Law 19:15; Yak 2:5yeye asiyependelea wakuu,
wala haonyeshi upendeleo kwa matajiri kuliko maskini,
kwa kuwa wote ni kazi ya mikono yake?
2034:20 Kut 11:4; 12:29; Ay 12:19Wanakufa ghafula, usiku wa manane;
watu wanatikiswa nao hupita;
wenye nguvu huondolewa
bila mkono wa mwanadamu.
2134:21 Mit 15:3; Ebr 4:13“Macho yake yanazitazama njia za wanadamu;
anaona kila hatua yao.
2234:22 Za 74:20; Ay 3:5; Amo 9:2-3Hakuna mahali penye giza nene, wala uvuli mkubwa,
ambapo watenda mabaya wanaweza kujificha.
2334:23 Ay 11:11; Ezr 9:13Mungu hana haja ya kumchunguza mtu sana,
ili apate kuja mbele zake kwa hukumu.
2434:24 Ay 12:19; Dan 2:21Bila kuuliza huwapondaponda wenye nguvu nyingi
na kuwaweka wengine mahali pao.
2534:25 Ay 11:11; Mit 5:21-23Kwa sababu huyaangalia matendo yao yote,
huwaondoa usiku, nao wakaangamia.
2634:26 Mwa 6:5; Ay 8:22; 28:24; Za 9:5; Yer 44:5Anawaadhibu kwa ajili ya uovu wao
mahali ambapo kila mmoja ataweza kuwaona,
2734:27 Za 14:3; Isa 5:12; 1Sam 15:11kwa sababu wameacha kumfuata Mungu,
nao hawakuiheshimu njia yake hata moja.
2834:28 Kut 22:23; Yak 5:4; Mhu 5:8Wamesababisha kilio cha maskini kifike mbele zake,
hivyo akasikia kilio cha wahitaji.
2934:29 Za 28:1; 83:1; 109:1; Rum 8:34; Za 13:1; 97:9; 83:18Lakini kama akinyamaza kimya,
ni nani awezaye kumhukumu?
Kama akiuficha uso wake,
ni nani awezaye kumwona?
Ikiwa ni taifa au mtu mmoja, kwake ni sawa,
3034:30 Za 25:15; Mit 29:2-12; 1Fal 12:28-30ili kumzuia mtu mwovu kutawala,
au wale ambao huwategea watu mitego.
31“Kama mwanadamu akimwambia Mungu,
‘Nimekosa lakini sitatenda dhambi tena.
3234:32 Kut 33:13; Za 27:11; Lk 19:8; Ay 33:27Nifundishe nisichoweza kuona;
kama nimekukosea, sitafanya hivyo tena.’
3334:33 Mit 17:23; Yn 3:8Je basi, Mungu atakulipa kwa masharti yako,
wakati wewe umekataa kutubu?
Yakupasa wewe uamue, wala si mimi;
sasa niambie lile ulijualo.
34“Wanadamu wenye ufahamu husema,
wenye hekima wanaonisikia huniambia,
3534:35 Ay 35:16; 38:2; 42:3; 26:3‘Ayubu huongea bila maarifa;
maneno yake hayana busara.’
3634:36 Ay 6:29; 22:15Laiti Ayubu angejaribiwa hadi kikomo cha mwisho,
kwa sababu anajibu kama mtu mwovu!
37Kwenye dhambi yake huongeza uasi;
kwa dharau hupiga makofi miongoni mwetu,
na kuzidisha maneno yake dhidi ya Mungu.”
